Our pick of the best Android TV boxes 2022

Are you looking for an affordable way to stream movies and use Kodi on TV? These are the top Android TV boxes available.

Some of the best Android TV boxes are amazing and bizarre. They don’t have a standard definition and are available in many shapes and sizes.

No matter what form they take, it’s clear that an Android TV box is extremely useful. These versatile devices can stream content to your TV, play locally saved files, and even play video games.

There are many options available, and many of them from unknown brands. It can be difficult to choose the right Android TV box.

We can help you. You can safely navigate your way to the ideal Android TV companion with the help of our buying guide.

What is an Android TV Box?

An Android TV box is small set-top box about the same size as Apple TV. It runs either Google’s Android TV or, more often, a modified version of standard Android. This makes the Android TV box incredibly versatile, allowing you to stream content from your computer or NAS drive to your TV or play back media that is already stored on the device.

Many Android TV boxes are advertised as Kodi devices. You can download the Kodi Open-Source Software and access to music and audio streaming across a wide range of services. You might find devices claiming to be Android TV boxes on eBay that come preloaded with subscription channels or other content. These devices may be illegal so don’t purchase them.

There are many legal devices available and the Kodi platform isn’t illegal if you don’t add piracy-enabling extensions to it. We recommend one of our favorite VPN services to protect your Kodi activity. A VPN can hide your traffic from your ISP, and allow you to virtually change your geographical location so that your Kodi addons work from anywhere.

What are the key features to look for in an Android TV Box?

It’s chaotic, and the specifications, features, and boxes change frequently. We recommend that you look for a box made in China with a quad-core processor and 2GB to 4GB RAM. Also, 16GB to 32GB storage is recommended.

Additional features include dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, as well as 4K support. However, don’t be too excited about claims of 6K and 8K support. Until more TVs or streaming services support higher resolutions, these are practically meaningless. It’s also doubtful that the boxes can process all those pixels.

Software is another thing to be aware of. Only a few Android TV boxes run what Google calls Android TV. Most simply run an Android version with the manufacturer’s TV-focused interface. These boxes may have access to the Google Play Store, and may also be preinstalled with popular video-streaming apps and Kodi.

Boxes running authentic Google Android TV are generally easier to use and more reliable. However, you may have trouble running Amazon Prime or Netflix on boxes that do not run Google Android TV. We recommend an Amazon Fire TV or Nvidia Shield TV if you don’t want to do any reconfigurations or sideloaded apps. You’ll still find bargains and lots of fun if you like to play with things.

1. Nvidia ShieldTV Pro: The best Android TV box available

Nvidia’s Shield TV, the previous Android TV box, was the best. But the Shield TV Pro is almost as good as the old Shield TV. The new Tegra X1+ processor is 25% faster and it also boasts AI-enhanced 4K scaling that actually works. This improves both the clarity of HD images as well as the vibrancy of colors for a 4K display. You can stream files from a NAS drive that is full of different formats with no problem. The chip also handles transcoding in real time. It’s a powerful AV powerhouse that supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, as well as DTS-X surround sound.

You can access all software from the Google Play Store by running the official Google TV OS. Plex comes preinstalled. If you wish to access other services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and iPlayer, you can still install Kodi. Although the onboard storage is limited to 16GB, it can be expanded with a USB 3.0 external hard drive.

Another major selling point of the Shield TV Pro is its games. The Tegra X1+ can handle the largest titles on Google Play, and it can stream games directly from Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. This allows you to play your PC games library on your TV, provided that the games are supported by the service. Some Kodi enthusiasts may find it too much. The new Shield TV «stick», which runs the same software as the Tegra X1+ chip, might be more appealing to them. This is, however, the ultimate Android TV package.

2. Amazon Fire TV Stick (2021), Flexible, Stable and Easily Available

Although it looks like a stick and not a box, the device runs Android. However, Amazon’s Fire TV interface will still display Google’s operating systems. There are also streaming apps such as Plex in Amazon’s app store. Kodi is not compatible with Android, but you can download it and other TV-friendly apps via sideloading and specific downloader apps.

Although the entry-level Fire TV Stick can do a lot, it has just 1GB RAM, a quad core CPU, and 8GB storage. The 2021 Firestick is the same hardware-software as its predecessor. However, the 2021 model features a new remote that has a Channel Guide button, four app buttons and an instant link to Amazon Prime and Netflix. (The specific apps will vary from region to region). You might be more into Kodi and want the 4K version with 1.5GB RAM and a faster CPU. It also supports 4K video.

3. Easytone T95Super: The best Android TV box for Kodi

Amazon and eBay sell a lot of cheap Android TV boxes that are built around the same 2GB RAM and 16GB flash storage specifications. Many ships with the exact same remote control and run the same version of reskinned Android software. Although this Easytone box doesn’t stand out from the rest, it is fast, stable, and simple to use.

The box is solid, well-designed, and sturdy. Although the buttons are cheap-feeling, the layout of the buttons on the remote is more logical than the ones you’ll find with bargain-basement boxes. You’ll need to sideload applications and install Kodi, as with all cheap Android TV products. However, this is a cost-effective way to get it running.

4. Xiaomi Mi Box S: A budget-friendly alternative to Nvidia Shield TV

The Xiaomi Android TV box has been updated. It isn’t perfect. There have been some issues with stability and lag. But it does a few more things than your average Android TV box. It runs the Google version Android TV. This means that you can use the remote control and a wide range of apps from Google Play Store. It also has the Google Assistant and a remote control with voice controls. This means you can launch an app or search for content using your voice. This is a very unusual feature if you haven’t tried it before.

Chromecast functions are also built into the Mi Box S. You can cast apps and web pages directly from your smartphone or tablet. However, you will need to make sure that your TV is on and the box is on before you start. It can also play 4K content from supported apps. Although it’s not readily available in the UK, and can sometimes feel a little underpowered, the Mi Box S Android TV Box is the best option.